> >All LISP programs are not compilable since some are self-modifying>> ...I can write an equivalent program in FORTRAN, and that the FORTRAN> program can be compiled statically. The FORTRAN program will, of course,> have all of the ``hidden'' LISP list operations...

I agree with most everything you say, but the original point was intrinsic
efficiency. You can always be the compiler yourself, and translate a LISP
program to FORTRAN by hand, but as you say, all the original overhead will
still be there---it's just more obvious. The real question is whether you'd
be better off writing a good FORTRAN program to begin with rather than
a bad LISP program. [Real programmers can write LISP in any language :-)].